Theo Fox: Game 39: Hawks 0, Preds 3
A recap of the Blackhawks goose egg versus the Predators in a match where Chicago dominated on paper but Nashville dominated in reality.

Plus, a recap of the IceHogs loss to the Wolves.

Carlsson has some bad moments, poor choices but overall appears much more consistent and steady in the AHL than each of the fellow dman "name" prospects. While he may not have as much outright skill as the others, Carlsson can do everything fairly well. The bonus with him is whether he will play this physical brand in the NHL. Certainly if he is willing to establish a physical game at the NHL level, he stands out as the other heralded dmen prospects are missing that element in their game.

Carlsson would be a cheap contract next season. His addition and someone's deletion (deHahn) would be a cost saving. That savings pays someone who deserves a raise -Laakinen for example.

It is a pity if we loose Carlsson to expansion. Long term we cannot say with certainty how well some of the heralded dmen prospects turn out. Carlsson, on the other hand, might prove to become a steady complimentary third pairing, even second pair. He needs the opportunity.

Just not real confidant he will get that opportunity in Chicago.

[quote=jhawk59]I am guessing there is something about being fair insofar as giving an equal or at least trying to spread out playing time among an overload of prospects this season in Rockford.

I feel that Altybarmakian and Soderlund have shown well, have provided evidence via their performance that they are moving quite nicely positive in their development. Perhaps I am.expecting too much from them, Theo, but I wince when they are omitted from the lineup. I have to believe the orders come from on high (Bowman). Or has to be with his blessing these line up choices/omissions. /quote]

Good Team.. well coached... genius General Manager that truly knows how to draft and develop players.. pretty sure no one with the exception of Kane Dach and the cat will be on this team in three years...
- bigfly46

Who is this genius GM that you speak of, David Poile or Stan Bowman? Last time I checked no cups and one finals in 38 years for Poile. As far as Hawks in three years, besides the three you named, Boqvist, Mitchell, Hagel, and Kurashev will be there as well. There are some maybes’ like Kubalik, Kalynuk, Murphy, Beaudin, Zadorov, and Lankinen...

The above is from last blog.

Thanks for all you do Theo, we appreciate the daily blogs and the effort you put in.

Good morning, Theo. Thanks for your efforts.

You wrote, "The Blackhawks dominated the metrics in shooting and scoring attempts but were simply outworked by the Predators in all zones."

I don't see how both of these can be true at once. How do you dominate shot metrics while being outworked in all zones?

Seems we've been on the other end of this situation quite a few times this season - Hawks are badly outshot and outchanced by the opposition, but win somehow. In those games, board members grumble "yeah they won, but not sustainable....goalie win...". The story in those games is that, despite winning, the Hawks aren't as good as team X.

Happy Easter to those to whom it matters.

Edit - high danger scoring chances 5x5 were 17-4 Hawks. Isn't that supposed to tell us who played better?

Good Team.. well coached... genius General Manager that truly knows how to draft and develop players.. pretty sure no one with the exception of Kane Dach and the cat will be on this team in three years...
- bigfly46

Who is this genius GM that you speak of, David Poile or Stan Bowman? Last time I checked no cups and one finals in 38 years for Poile. As far as Hawks in three years, besides the three you named, Boqvist, Mitchell, Hagel, and Kurashev will be there as well. There are some maybes’ like Kubalik, Kalynuk, Murphy, Beaudin, Zadorov, and Lankinen...

The above is from last blog.

Thanks for all you do Theo, we appreciate the daily blogs and the effort you put in.
- Angotti

I would think Kubalik would be in the “likely to be there” category. Thirty goals last season, on pace for 25 (prorated to 82 games) this season - 75%-80% at EV - .7 PPG - unless he’s traded for something good....

And Lankinen - except that goalies - like baseball closers - are always “maybe”, he’s shown me that he is the goalie going forward. His game is based on positioning, more than acrobatics, a good portent for future success, I think.

I would think Kubalik would be in the “likely to be there” category. Thirty goals last season, on pace for 25 (prorated to 82 games) this season - 75%-80% at EV - .7 PPG - unless he’s traded for something good....

And Lankinen - except that goalies - like baseball closers - are always “maybe”, he’s shown me that he is the goalie going forward. His game is based on positioning, more than acrobatics, a good portent for future success, I think.
- StLBravesFan

The reason I didn’t guarantee Lanks a spot in three years is due to what you mentioned, you never know with goalies. I also hope that Kubalik is on the team in three years, but there’s a chance that he becomes too pricey. Kubalik is one of my favorite players on the current team, he just needs a good center to play with.

Theo Fox: Game 39: Hawks 0, Preds 3
A recap of the Blackhawks goose egg versus the Predators in a match where Chicago dominated on paper but Nashville dominated in reality.

Plus, a recap of the IceHogs loss to the Wolves.
- Theo Fox

I watched the game last night, they need to come out with a metric of time and space with defensive players between the goalie and the player, there was no time and space for the Blackhawks in the Preds zone, barely any inside positioning, net front presence, once again the Preds do a fantastic job of concentrating defensively on the strong side of the opponents stick, something JC needs to institute

PP1 is missing the hard working, win board battles, net front presence forward when Shaw got hurt and since Hagel has been taken off. I feel Cat is one of these players but you need another, teams are smart enough to try to make Cat carry the puck in.

Good morning, Theo. Thanks for your efforts.

You wrote, "The Blackhawks dominated the metrics in shooting and scoring attempts but were simply outworked by the Predators in all zones."

I don't see how both of these can be true at once. How do you dominate shot metrics while being outworked in all zones?

Seems we've been on the other end of this situation quite a few times this season - Hawks are badly outshot and outchanced by the opposition, but win somehow. In those games, board members grumble "yeah they won, but not sustainable....goalie win...". The story in those games is that, despite winning, the Hawks aren't as good as team X.

Happy Easter to those to whom it matters.

Edit - high danger scoring chances 5x5 were 17-4 Hawks. Isn't that supposed to tell us who played better?
- mohel

There is more useful information contained in the Daily Racing Form than relying on NHL stats and data.

The reality is that since Feb 19 (about 6 weeks) the Hawks are 8W-13L. There are some individual highlights worthy of mention most games, but nothing that a realistic evaluator would say indicates the Hawks are a legit playoff spot contender.

They are a bottom half NHL team. The good news is the team is putting some decent looking young players into their lineup every night and aren't getting blown out. Like I said a week ago, they are fading in the stretch drive as the competition heats up. But that is still better than being an 'also ran' like Detroit or Buffalo who learned nothing from participating in a competitive race.

To me it sure seems like when a check is there to be made they are being passed up more and more frequently by this team. Preds is a team where anyone or everyone needs to finish their check if it's within the play of the game.

There is more useful information contained in the Daily Racing Form than relying on NHL stats and data.

The reality is that since Feb 19 (about 6 weeks) the Hawks are 8W-13L. There are some individual highlights worthy of mention most games, but nothing that a realistic evaluator would say indicates the Hawks are a legit playoff spot contender.

They are a bottom half NHL team. The good news is the team is putting some decent looking young players into their lineup every night and aren't getting blown out. Like I said a week ago, they are fading in the stretch drive as the competition heats up. But that is still better than being an 'also ran' like Detroit or Buffalo who learned nothing from participating in a competitive race.
- RickJ

Very true, and it's been a much better season to watch than the previous 2.

Very true, and it's been a much better season to watch than the previous 2.
- BetweenTheDots

For sure, young team trying hard but just not enough talent overall and size and offensive capabilities up front.

Even Strome is playing better, maybe his dog bit him and his wife told him to get his ass in gear.

I think the Hawks not winning can come down to one stat. Kane, 2 goals in 14 games. Teams have decided they are going to follow him wherever he goes, and double concentrate when his line is out, because the other 3 lines are not remotely dangerous.

There is more useful information contained in the Daily Racing Form than relying on NHL stats and data.

The reality is that since Feb 19 (about 6 weeks) the Hawks are 8W-13L. There are some individual highlights worthy of mention most games, but nothing that a realistic evaluator would say indicates the Hawks are a legit playoff spot contender.

They are a bottom half NHL team. The good news is the team is putting some decent looking young players into their lineup every night and aren't getting blown out. Like I said a week ago, they are fading in the stretch drive as the competition heats up. But that is still better than being an 'also ran' like Detroit or Buffalo who learned nothing from participating in a competitive race.
- RickJ

I agree with your post in general.

Regarding the stats...we should use them consistently. They can't be useful to demean or degrade the Hawks performance when they win, and ignored when they lose.

For sure, young team trying hard but just not enough talent overall and size and offensive capabilities up front.

Even Strome is playing better, maybe his dog bit him and his wife told him to get his ass in gear.
- RickJ

Hahaha, i know it made me grow up having a kid

Can I demean or degrade the “fancy “stats themselves? I think a lot of them are made up just to try and make someone sound smarter.

What is the difference between a scoring chance and an “expected goal”. Are there expected saves? Is an expected goal the same if is Kane or David Kampf.

I agree with your post in general.

Regarding the stats...we should use them consistently. They can't be useful to demean or degrade the Hawks performance when they win, and ignored when they lose.
- mohel

Here's a stat that I think is factual - Kendal Coyne contributed more useful information and opinion n 1 game than Eddie and Pat do in a whole season.

FIRE EDDIE AND PAT!

I think the Hawks not winning can come down to one stat. Kane, 2 goals in 14 games. Teams have decided they are going to follow him wherever he goes, and double concentrate when his line is out, because the other 3 lines are not remotely dangerous.
- LAHawk

Excellent point LA, i don't think it's coincidence they played better at home in this stretch since JC can dictate matchups, I'll add the teams we played in this stretch have some pretty (frank)ing good dmen.

First half of the season= over achieved
So far the second half= the reality of this team.

At least 3 years from a competitive team.

Mid to late round picks are coming to help in 3 years, nobody panic.... lol!

First half of the season= over achieved
So far the second half= the reality of this team.

At least 3 years from a competitive team.

Mid to late round picks are coming to help in 3 years, nobody panic.... lol!
- Blackhawks4life

Well the quality of competition matters here. I expected them to only have 45 points this year, only 6 points away. Is there no credit given to be a team that is in rebuild and playing better than the bottom dwelling teams in the league with a bunch of 1st and 2nd year players on it?

Here's a stat that I think is factual - Kendal Coyne contributed more useful information and opinion n 1 game than Eddie and Pat do in a whole season.

FIRE EDDIE AND PAT!
- RickJ

Eddie is the worst. Says the same 6-10 clichés over and over again.

Here is a fact, the Hawks are the exception to the rule when it comes to winning Stanley Cups after 2 high draft choices. Hawks did it in 3 after Kane and Toews. It took Tampa Bay 11 years after drafting Stamkos #1 and Hedman #2 to win cup #1. Jon Cooper was the head coach for 7 years before the cup win.

Oh, and Brian Lawton was the GM who drafted both. Does that make the great Steve Yzerman a builder or a maintainer?

Can I demean or degrade the “fancy “stats themselves? I think a lot of them are made up just to try and make someone sound smarter.

What is the difference between a scoring chance and an “expected goal”. Are there expected saves? Is an expected goal the same if is Kane or David Kampf.
- LAHawk

Ok by me.

Very true, and it's been a much better season to watch than the previous 2.
- BetweenTheDots

Yes it has, and we all new that there was a tough schedule in March, just not enough talent as currently constructed to beat those teams consistently, but as it was mentioned, they for the most part been in every game. Just need a bit more development from the young guys and we need to add more talent up front, we are not as far away as we thought when the year started. Would I like to see them in the playoffs? Yes, would I like a high 1st round pick? Yes, although I’d rather have the former, the latter is not bad either. Go Hawks and Happy Easter to those that celebrate.